Rib for cotton-gins.



J. T. FULLER. I

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

' J. T. FULLER.

RIB FOR COTTON GINS. AAAAAAAAAA 1: FILE DDDD 20. 1907.

911,034. Patented Feb. 2, 1909 r 2 SSSSSSSSSS BT2- JAMES T. FULLER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

RIB r03 COTTON-GINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l atented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application filed May 20, 1907. Serial No. 374,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns T. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Charlotte, Mecklenburg county, "North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribs for Cotton- Gins, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to cotton gins, and

specifically to an improvement in the ribs or equivalent ginning members employed therein. i

The advantages of my invention are more fully attained in the preferred formherein illustrated, in which the ribs are made from sheet steel, pressed into form, but it is to be understood that my invention is not, as to all its features, necessarily restricted to a vention shown in the drawings, the ribs 10,

are formed of sheet metal and are pressed into the form illustrated in the drawingsby suitable automatic machinery, the operation of which is well understood by those skilled in the art of metal pressing or bending. The sides 12 of the ribs are turned downwardly to form depending, inwardly projecting side walls which are flattened against the ribs at the lower end to form flat bearing surfaces as is clearly shown in Figs. 4-9. The upper ends of the ribs are preferably tapered inwardly above the point 15 at which the saws 16,'or equivalent ginning members pass between them (which point I term the saw-tooth point), and below this point they are reduced in width to provide enlarged passages for the saws and cotton.

An arch-bar 17 is secured to a cross-bar 18 of the gin breast and is provided with lugs 19 for supporting the upper ends of the ribs.

The arch-bar 17, as shown, is made of metal and the lugs 19 are accurately formed thereon by means of suitable automatic machinery. The depending side-walls at the upper ends of the ribs form sockets in which the lugs 19 fit closely and interchangeably. The upper ends of the ribs are provided with integral tongues 20 and 21. The tongues 20 are preferably upset before the ribs are fitted over the lugs. When the ribs arein proper position the tongues 20 will abut against the ends of the lugs and the tongues 21 are then upset or driven into the recesses 24 which are formed to receive them in the lugs 19. These interlocking devices hold the ribs securely in position and yet permit their convenient removal when necessary. The ribs are secured to the grate-fall 25 by a single screw 26. The ribs may thus be accurately and quickly iitted and are securely held in place, and in case a, rib is broken or requires replacing the operation may be perfectly performed by unskilled labor, since the position of the rib is exactly fixed and it is not possible to secure the rib in an incorrect position. The working surfaces of the ribs opposite the tops of the saws are preferably hardened to resist wear.

The reduction in the width of the ribs at and below the point at which the saws pass between them to provide an enlarged opening for the saw, or equivalent ginning member, constitutes an important feature of the invention, preventing the saws from contacting with the ribs at this point and the consequent shearing or cutting of the fiber, and permitting the gin to gin faster without damaging the cotton. This advantage would of course be attained if the ribs were made of cast metal; but in other respects the pressed ribs possess many advantages. They are lighter and more cheaply made, and are perfectly interchangeable. The pressing operation leaves the sides and surfaces of the ribs smooth, reducing their resistance to the passage of the cotton to a .minimum. The ribs are free from sharp that particular type of gin.

I claim:

1. A pressed metal rib for cotton gins having depending side walls.

2. A pressed metal rib for cotton gins hav ing depending side walls which extend inwardly under the rib.

3. A pressed metal rib for cotton gins having :depending side-walls which at the lower end are flattened against the rib to form a bearing surface.

' 4. A rib for cotton gins having a socket at its upper end adapted to receive a supporting lug.

5. A rib for cotton gins having a socket at its upper end and locking devices adapted to engage a supporting lug.

6. A pressed metal rib for cotton gins having at its upper end downwardly and inwardly bent side walls and locking devices adapted to engage a supporting lug.

7. In a cotton gin, the combination with the ribs, of a supporting bar, lugs thereon, sockets or recesses in the upper ends of the ribs and interlocking devices on the ribs and lugs for removably holding the upper ends of the ribs.

8. In a cotton gin, the combination of a supporting bar, lugs thereon, pressed. metal ribs having at their upper ends downwardly and inwardly bent side walls to form a isocket for said lugs, and tongues integral with the ribs for engaging the lugs.

9. In a cotton gin, the combination, of a supporting bar, lugs thereon, pressed metal ribs having at their upper ends downwardly 1? and inwardly bent side walls forming sockets for the lugs, projections on the ribs for engaging the lugs, one of which projections prevents movement in one direction and the other of which prevents movement in the opposite direction.

10. In a cotton gin, the-combination oi a supporting bar, lugs thereon, ribs having sockets which fit said lugs, a recess in each lug, and a tongue on each rib adapted to J. J. FARNAN, '1. S. SIMPSON. 

